Laundry machines



Dec. 3, 1963 H., N. SHAW LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Nov. 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 3, 1963 H. N. sHAw LAUNDRY MAGHINES Filed Nov. 28, i960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 3, 1963 H. N. sl-'IAw 3,113,004

LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Nov. 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 3, 1963 Filed Nov. 28. 1960 H. N* SHAW LAUNDRY MACHINES 4 Sheets-Shet 4 ATTORNEYS.'

United States Patent() 3,113,004 LAUNDRY MACHINES Harold N. Shaw, B0. Box 173, Everett, Mass. Filed Nov. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 71,964 11 Claims. (Cl. 34-95) lhis invention relates to improvements in laundry machmes and more particularly to a machine which may be used as a dryer and in certain embodiments as a combination washer and dryer.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 749,553, filed July 18, 1958, now abandoned, which prior abandoned application was a contlnuation-in-part of application Serial No. 35,768, led May 27, 1953, now abandoned.

In the device disclosed in my pending application serial No. 749,533, filed July 18, 1958, a washing machine making use of an endless absorbent belt is disclosed. The present invention relates to an improvement upon the device of this prior application in that 1t provides a novel arrangement in a machine having an endless belt and having end retaining discs, which arrangement provides for loading from the top. In prior devices of this type wherein there are circular end member, such as those on the ends of a revolving drum, as 1n the Tann Patent No. 2,758,461, loading always had to be accomplished through the end of one of the circular end members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a laundry machine wherein garments may be efectively subjected to a tumbling action on an`absorbent belt which is so arranged that the device may be loaded from above.

A further object is to provide al machine with an open top to provide a top gap into which garments may be thrown by centrifugal force to increase the height of their fall and decrease their drying time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described wherein drying of the articles may be facilitated by the use of heat or by the use of heated air from a blower, with the latter directed to engage the garments as they are being thrown across the open top of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described employing end retaining discs within an endless belt, there being side drive belts and there also being means whereby one of the end retaining discs may rotate relative to the other to compensate for slight differences in the lengths of the timing belts or for other mechanical inaccuracies in manufacture, the side timing belts being driven in synchronism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a laundry machine as above described utilizing a relatively thin cloth or mesh belt wherein means is provided for supporting said belt against excessive sagging.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described which may include a liquid receptacle and a wringer whereby the device may be employed as a combination washer and dryer.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved laundry machine, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof. In the accompanying drawings illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a laundry machine embodying features of the present invention, parts be ing broken away and the outer casing and liquid pan being removed;

. FIG. 2 is a verticalsectional view through the casing of the apparatus of FIG. l, parts being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device, parts being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of the apparatus to show the timing belt support for the endless absorbent belt;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a modied form of machine Y with part ofthe outer casing removed;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a piece of the endless belt showing how the latter may if desired be formed by wire mesh;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a view principally in vertical section showing a modification of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2; and,

FIG. 9 is an end view partially diagrammatic showing another modification. v

Referring to the drawings (FIGS. 1-3,), there is a suitable base 20 having upright rear end supports 21 and having suitable supporting means 22 at the opposite end. Between the front and rear supports are shafts 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 carrying rotatable rollers 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34, respectively. The roller 29 has its opposite ends formed with timing teeth as at 35 or these may be sprockets attached to the ends of the roller 29. Driven by the sprockets 35 are toothed belts 36 (FIG. 3) having spaced pins 36 which project from their outer surfaces, the belts being trained around pulleys on the ends of the rollers 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34, such as the pulley 37 or FIG. l and the belts being looped over the tops of the pulleys on the shafts 23 and V28 as shown in FIG. 2 and traveling back again in the form of inner slings 38. -f

FIG. 4 discloses how the edgesof the wide flexible belts 39 are secured to the narrow heavy toothed belts 36 md this gure shows how the at sides of the narrow toothed belts 36 face the peripheries of the end discs 4t) and 44 with the wide flexible belts therebetween and how the toothed sides of the belts 36 face in the opposite direction. This figure and FIGURE 7 also show how the pins 36' project from the narrow toothed belts 36 beyond the wide belt 39, and the lower left hand corner of FIG. 3 shows how the pins 36' prevent the belts from lpulling inwardly oif of the end discs.

VAn endless flexible belt 39 is hooked over the pins 36 on the belts 36 as shown in FIG. 7 the latter being bent outwardly to prevent the belt 39 from pulling olf. This belt 39 may be formed of relatively thin and soft absorbent cloth, or for certain uses, such as for use in a dryer, it may be formed of wire or plastic mesh, or the belt 39 may be formed of absorbent paper material supported on a wire mesh belt, the absorbent paper being removable for renewing at intervals.

It is thus apparent from FIG. 2 that the belt is arenlace/t 3 ranged in the form of a double sling with the inner stretch 38 of the sling serving as the garment supporting stretch.

In the .torni of the invention of FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, there are end retaining discs positioned in axially spaced relationship to prevent clothes from falling out of the ends of the sling. A single disc 4() (FIG. 3) yat one end is connected by tumbling bars 41 with an inner front end disc 42. The inner end disc 42 has a central stud 43 projecting therefrom ttor supporting an outer front end disc 44. 'Dhe end discs are preferably oppositely dished as shown. A Iwasher 4S may be `disposed on the stud 43 between the discs 42 and 44 to space them slightly. With this arrangement the outer front disc 44 may rotate independently of the inner end disc 42 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The outer end disc has an inwardly =anged rim portion 46 which bears against the cloth belt on lthe inner belt 36 during rotation. The front disc 42 is of slightly less diameter so as not to engage the cloth belt 39 0r belt 36. With the outer end disc 44 capable of rotating independently of the inner end disc 42, it is apparent that any slight differences in the lengths of the two belts 36 or any slight difference in the diameter of the discs y4t) and 44 is compensated for.

The roller -29 rotatably carries a drive pulley as at 47 which is driven by an endless belt 4t; from an electric motor 49 (see FIG. 3). Thus when the motor is started the timing sprockets 35 will positively drive the side belts 36 which support the thin relatively soft and llexible belt 39 which in certain forms of the invention may be an absorbent cloth belt.

If the device is to be used `as a washer, or as a combinlation washer `and dryer, it is important to have additional support for the lower portion of the relatively thin belt 39 to prevent excessive sagging and such support is desirable when Aused as a dryer alone with a ymesh belt. This is accomplished by having support belts Sil on one side which are trained around the rollers 3) and 3i; support belts `I at the bottom which are trained around the rollers 31 and 32 (see FIG. 2); and support belts 52 at the other side which are trained around the rollers 32 and 33 as also shown in FIG. 2. These belts, which may be formed of rubber or plastic, provide intermediate support for the relatively soft, llexible belt 39 to prevent excessive sagging under the weight of the clothes. .In the form of the invention of FIGS. l to 3, inclusive, there is a top wringer roller v53 suitably supported between brackets 54 which are suspended from a U-shaped frame member 55. The latter has an upwardly projecting central bolt 56 supporting a leaf spring 57 whose ends act through members 58 against the ends of the wringer roll shaft to urge the wringer roll yieldingly toward the roll 29. It is apparent that the wringer is adapted to wring water from an absorbent belt, when the belt 39 is absorbent, which water will be directed by gravity into a drain pan 59 (see FIGS. l and 2). The .drain pan may be disposed to direct the water back into the liquid receptacle 6i) at the bottom (see FIG. 2).

-In the form of the invention of FIGS. 1 to 3, incl-usive, an electric heating unit 61 is shown (FIG. 2) as suitably supported in the space between the rollers 33 and 34 and between the stretches of the belt 3.9. This heating element should be of light-weight design so that it will cool o rapidly when deener-gized. As long as the belt is being moved rapidly the high wattage element cannot scorch the belt, but as soon as the belt stops, the element must cool olf quickly. The heating element :may be controlled by a centrifugal switch or by a suitable thermostat such as a thermostat in contact with the opposite stretch of the belt so as to limit the belt temperaure. Also shown as used in conjunction with the form of the invention of FIGS. 1 to 3 is a blower 62 which may also have a heating element 63 therein. This blower is positioned as shown in FIG. 2 so that its nozzle 64 will direct a blast of heated air on the clothes as they are thrown across the top gap 65 between the rollers 29 and 34. With this arrangement, the clothes will dry rapidly, the speed of drying being limited only by the maximum air blast temperature. The only limitation on this temperature is that it cannot be so hot as to scorch the clothes. inasmuch as the entire unit of FIGS. l to 3 is yused inside of an outer case 66 having a top cover 66', as shown in FIG. 2, the hot air may be recirculated for high efficiency.

The heating element 61 radiates `heat to both sides of an absorbent belt 39. It is, "of course, possible to omit the blower and utilize only the heating element 61 or to use the blower and omit the heating element. For maximum eiliciency, however, both are employed as shown in FIG. 2.

In the 4form of the invention of FIG. 5 everything is the salme as in the form of the invention of FIGS. l to 3, inclusive, except that this form of the invention shows how lthe end discs 69 may be supported on end bearings independently of the support ffurnished by the sling of the absorbent belt as in FIG. 2. In FIGS. 2 and 3 there are no bearings on the frame for supporting the end discs. In the form of the invention of FIG. 5 there may be front and rear standards 67 having upper end bearings for supporting `hubs on the end disks. In this form of the invention both of the front and rear end discs 69, which yare connected by the tumbling bars 4I, will rotate together as a unit, or an independently rotatable front disc may be `used as at fifi in FIG'. 3.

As in the principal form of the invention this machine may be also lloaded through the top space 65 by removal of the top cover y66', there being no peripheral wall connecting the end discs 69.

FIG. 9 illustrates more or Iless diagrammatically a modification wherein there are suitably supported end spiders 72 at opposite ends of the machine for supporting a double sling endless belt 73 on rollers 74 earnied by the arms of the spider. The spiders have central bearing openings 75 for rotatably receiving hubs 76 from end discs 77. One set of arms of the spiders may have an adjustably extensible outer section 78 which, through the slots 79 and nuts and bolts Si), may be used for belt takeup purposes. The device of FIG. 9 is particularly suitable for use as a dryer only, as :it is a simple and inexpensive construction which can be loaded through the open top space SI between the two :top rollers 74. In this modification the outer end disc 77 may if desired be constructed the same as the discs 42 and 44 of FIG. 3 so that the outer disc may revolve independently of the disc at the opposite end to compensate for any slight diterences in the length of the timing belts or in the diameters of the discs.

The dryer of FIG. 9 may be used in conjunction with a blower 162 having a nozzle 1.64 `adapted to direct a blast of heated air against the tumbling garments in the top space S1 just as in the form of the invention of FIG. 2. In addition, it may be desirable lto employ a gas burner S2 in the space `between the two portions of the sling of the belt 73. Where a metal screen belt as in FIG. 6 is used at 73, the blower picks up the hot gases from the burner S2, which pass freely through the mesh of the outer stretch of the belt, and these hot gases are discharged tfrom the blower nozzle 164 onto the clothes.

In the form of the invention of FIG. 8, a screen belt '73 is Ialso preferably employed and here there is an electric heating element 261 like the heating element 61 of FIG. 2. The blower 262 has Ya casing which is positioned opposite the electric heating element 261 with its inner surface 263 forming a reflecting surface to direct all the heat through the screen belt tto the clothes. The blower 262 may have a heating element inside of the easing as well, which would be similar to the heating element 63 of FIG. 2. In this form of the invention the machine may be operated `at speeds high enough to throw the clothes upward through the opening by centrifugal force and the dellector plate 264i redirects the clothes downward through opening Si. This plate may be swingable on a hinge 265, to serve as a cover and may be provided with a thermostat to control the heating element. At high speeds, tumbling bars are not used and the end disks are maintained in spaced relationship by the independent support bearings 276.

FIG. 8 shows the clothes thrown by centrifugal force against the por-tion of the heated belt which is on the lefthand side of the igure. These clothes are then thrown by centrifugal force upwardly through the top space and against the deector plate 264. In FIG. 8, twice as many clothes are shown falling on the righthand side. This is because the dellector plate arrests the `movement of these clothes and causes them to Hutter down by gravity with the majority being free from the belt on the righthand side and thus traveling much slower than those on the lefthand side, which are held by centrifugal force against the belt. Thus, the clothes on the lefthand side of FIG. 8 are pressed against the 'hot belt for quick heating by conduction from the belt and then fall loosely after being slowed down by the deflector 264 to expose a maximum amount of sunface `for absorption of moisture by the heated air currents from the blower 262 and/ or from air heated by the moving hot belt.

It is apparent that in all forms of the invention clothes may be readily loaded into the top through a space, such as the space 65 of FlG. 2, which is -dened at the ends by the upper portions of the end discs and at the sides by the upper belt supporting rollers. It is apparent that in all forms of the invention there :are end discs which retain the clothes rin the sling and which lare driven by the ybelts 36, the latter supporting the llexible belt. In forms of the invention where the end discs are connected by tumbling bars provision has been made, where desired, to provide for independent movement between the rfront disc and the rear disc to compensate for slight differences in length of the belts 36, for slight differences in the diameters of the discs, or for other manufacturing inaccuracies. 'llhe -belts 36 make it possible to utilize a relatively thin soit and ilexible belt, and the auxiliary suppont belts 5t), 51 and 52 prevent excessive sagging of the thin belt under the weight of water soaked garments.

When used Ias a washer-dryer this device with a cloth belt has an :action which resembles the tumbling of clothes in a bath towel to remove water therefrom. This `drying action may be aided by the use of the heating element or blower or both, and where a wringer is employed, as in FIGS. l to 5, inclusive, water is continuously removed from the absorbent belt by the wringer. However, when the device is to -be used solely as a dryer, and where there is auxiliary heat, such as the electric heating element, blower or gas `burner of FIG. 9, then the use of a -Wringer may be eliminated and `a non-absorbent belt or screen used.

The device of FIGS. l to 3, inclusive, is designed to be a combination washer and dryer, land when used as a washer the clothes lare tumbled in the liquid receptacle Gil of FIG. 2. Dupin-g the drying cycle, the wninger eX- tracts much of Ithe water rand the heating element and blower are employed to completely dry the clothes.

This machine may also be used as la general purpose dryer, such las a dryer for granulated materials used in the chemical industry.

Various changes and modications may be made without ydeparting from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as Imay come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a laundry machine a relatively thin and ilexible endless belt, horizontally spaced upper rollers over which opposite portions of the belt are looped for supporting said belt in the form of a double sling having an open top space between said upper supporting rollers, said double sling having inner and outer stretches one of which provides an inner sling portion on which garments, which have been inserted through said top space are adapted to be tumbled, means for maintaining said inner and outer stretches in spaced relationship, spaced garment retaining end discs positioned within said inner sling portion, narrow relatively heavy supporting belts connected to opposite edges of said relatively thin belt and positioned over the peripheries of said discs to drive said relatively thin belt and discs in synchronism, means for driving said narrow supporting belts, and intermediate supports for said relatively thin belt including endless belts positioned between -stretches thereotv and engaged by the under side of the inner sling portion of the relatively thin belt to prevent sagging thereof said intermediate supports also including means permitting movement of said last-mentioned endless belts with the inner sling portion.

2. In a laundry machine, an endless belt, horizontally spaced upper rollers over whichV opposite portions of the belt are looped for supporting said belt in the form of a double sling having an open top space between said upper supporting rollers, means for driving and supporting said belt, said double sling having an inner sling portion on which garments, which have been inserted through said top space are adapted to be tumbled and having an outer sling portion, means for maintaining said inner and outer sling portions in spaced relationship, first and second garment retaining end discs positioned within said inner sling portion, tumbling ribs connecting said first and -second discs together and holding them in spacedrelationship `for rotation together, and an outer disc concentrically pivoted to said second disc for independent rotation, said outer disc and the first disc being drivingly engaged by said inner sling portion adjacent opposite edges thereof, and means between said inner sling portion and discs for preventing axial movement of the discs relative to the sling.

3. In a laundry machine a relatively flexible endless belt, means including side and bottom rollers and including horizontally spaced upper rollers over which opposite portions of the belt are looped for supporting said belt in the `form of a double sling with an open top space between -said upper supporting rollers, means for driving said belt, said double sling having an outer sling portion trained around said side and bottom rollers and having an inner sling portion on which garments which have been inserted through said top space are adapted to be tumbled, spaced :garment retaining end discs positioned within said inner sling portion, said discs being driven by said inner sling portion, andin-termediate endless support belts trained around said side and bottom rollers and positioned between the outer and inner sling portions of the llexible belt and having stretches positioned to support the lower part of the inner sling portion of the ilexible endless belt against excessive sagging.

4. In a laundry machine, a iirst endless belt, horizontally spaced upper rollers over which opposite portions of said belt are looped for supporting said belt in the -forrn of a double sling having an open top space between said upper supporting rollers, said double sling having an outer sling portion and having an inner sling portion on which garments, which have been inserted through said top space, are adapted to be tumbled, means for maintaining said inner and `outer sling portions in spaced relationship, spaced garment retaining end discs positioned within said inner sling portion and overlapped by the edges thereof, spaced, narrow, relatively heavy supporting belts having inwardly projecting pins projecting through marginal portions of said first belt and overlapping peripheral portions of said end discs on the outer sides thereof to retain the belts on the discs, said inner sling portion having edges between said supporting belts and peripheral portions of the discs, means for driving said heavy supporting belts and means for maintaining said end discs in axially spaced relationship.

5. In a laundry machine an endless belt of moisture retaining material which is twistable and susceptible of sag; means supporting said moisture retaining belt for movement and so that a portion is in the form of a double sling in which clothes are tumbled, said sling having an open top space and having inner and outer stretches; means for maintaining said inner and outer stretches in spaced relationship; spaced garment-retaining end discs positioned within the contines of said sling portion for rotation with the belt; narrow, relatively heavy non-stretchable belts each having one flat side and having the other side with longitudinally-spaced lugs, with said flat sides connected against said moisture retaining belt adjacent opp'osi-te edges thereof and overlapping the peripheries of the discs, and with the sides having the lugs facing away tfrom the moisture retaining belt; cooperating means between said narrow heavy belts and discs for maintaining said heavy belts and the moisture retaining belt in engagement with the peripheries of the discs to drive said belt and discs in synchronism while edge portions of the belt are between said heavy belt and disc peripheries, whereby the belt is prevented from twisting and tearing; driving means engaging said nar-row belts and having driving projections coacting with said lugs of the narrow belts, and means for maintaining said end discs in axially spaced relationship.

6. In a laundry machine, an endless belt of flexible moisture retaining material, horizontally spaced upper rollers over which opposite portions of the belt are looped for supporting said belt in the form of a double sling having an open top space between said upper supporting rollers, means for driving said belt, said double sling having an outer sling portion and having an inner sling portion on which damp garments which have been inserted through said top space are adap ed to be tumbled, means for maintaining said inner and outer sling portions in spaced relationship, spaced garment retaining end discs positioned within said inner sling portion for rotation with said inner sling portion as the latter moves, heating means between the stretches of said double sling so positioned as to dry the inner sides of those portions of the belt which have been most recently in contact with the garments just as said portions are leaving said contact, intermediate supporting means for said moisture retaining belt position between stretches thereof and having portions engaged by and movable with the underside of the inner sling portion of the moisture retaining belt to prevent sagging thereof, and means for maintaining said end discs in axially spaced relationship.

7. IIn a laundry machine a flexible endless moisture retaining belt, horizontally spaced upper rollers over which opposite portions of the belt are looped for supporting said belt in the form of a double sling having an open top space between said upper supporting rollers, said double sling having inner and outer stretches one of which provides an inner sling portion on which damp garments which have been inserted through said top space are adapted to be tumbled, means for maintaining said inner and outer sling portions in spaced relationship, spaced garment retaining end discs positioned within said inner sling portion and overlapped by the edges thereof, narrow relatively heavy supporting belts connected adjacent opposite edges of said moisture retaining belt to the latter and overlapping the peripheries of said discs with portions of said endless moisture retaining belt between said discs and supporting belts to drive said moisture retaining belt and discs in synchronism, means for driving and supporting said narrow supporting belts, intermediate supporting means for said moisture retaining belt positioned between stretches thereof and having portions engaged by and movable with the underside of the inner sling portion of the moisture retaining belt to prevent sagging thereof, and means `for maintaining said end discs in axially spaced relationship.

8. In a laundry machine a ilexible endless moisture retaining belt, horizontally spaced upper rollers over which opposite portions of the belt are looped for supporting said beit in the form of a double sling having an open top space between said upper supporting rollers, said double sling having inner and outer stretches one of which provides an inner sling portion `on which damp garments which have been inserted through said top space are adapted to be tumbled, means for maintaining said inner and outer sling portions in spaced relationship, spaced garment retaining end dises positioned within said inner sling portion and overlapped by the edges thereof, narrow relatively heavy supporting belts connected adiacent opposite edges of said moisture retaining belt to the latter and over-lapping the peripheries of said discs with portions of said endless moisture retaining belt between said discs and supporting belts to drive said moisture retaining beit and discs in synchronism, means for supporting and driving said narrow supporting belts, intermediate supporting means for said moisture retaining belt positioned between stretches thereof and having portions engaged by and movable with the under side of the inner sling portion of the moisture lret;ining belt to prevent sagging thereof, and means for maintaining said end discs in axially spaced relationshp.

9. In a laundry machine, a first endless belt, horizontally spaced upper rollers yover which opposite portions ot said belt are looped 4for supporting said belt in the form of a double sling having an open top space between said upper supporting rollers, said double sling having an outer slinf1 portion and having an inner sling portion on which garments which have been inserted through said top space are adapted to be tumbled, means for maintaining said inner and outer sling portions. in spaced relationship, spaced garment retaining end discs positioned within said inner sling portion and overlapped by the edges thereof, narrow relatively heavy supporting belts connected over opposite edges of said iirst belt to said first belt and overlapping the peripheries of said discs with portions of said first endless belt between said end discs and supporting belts to drive said belt and discs in synchronism, cooperating means on said narrow heavy belts and von the discs positioned to prevent inward displacement of said belts from the discs, means for driving and supporting said heavy belts, and means for mamtaining said end discs in axially spaced relationship.

10. .'In a drying machine, an endless moisture 'retaining belt, horizontally-spaced upper rollers over which opposite portions of the belt are looped for supporting said belt in the form of a double sling having an 'open top space between said upper supporting rollers,D said double sling having an outer sling portion and havlng an inner sling portion on which garments which have been 1nserted through said top space are adapted to be tumble means for maintaining said inner and outer sllngportions in spaced relationship, spaced garment-retaining end discs positioned within said inner sling portion for rotation with said inner sling portion as the latter moves, means for maintaining said end discs in axially spaced relationship, means for heating the endless belt, a movably supported cover for said top space pos1t1oned to form a deector plate during operation, means -for causing said endless belt to move at a suiiiciently high speed to cause centrifugal orce to act on the garments in the sling and to throw the garments through said top space against the deector plate, whereby the garments will fall loosely from -the deflector plate back mto the sling, cooperating means between said endless belt and discs for preventing axial movement of the latter, and means for heating the air through which said garments fall.

1l. In combination, a relatively thin endless belt of material which is twistiable and susceptible of sag; .spaced rotatable disc means supporting the edges of said thin belt for movement therewith; narrow relatively heavy non-stretehable belts each having one llat side and having the other side with longitudinally-spaced lugs, with the fia-t sides connected against said thin belt adjacent oppiosite edges thereof and with the side having the lugs facing outwardly away from said thin belt, opposite edge por-tions of said thin belt being located between said heavy belts and said rotatable disc means; cooperating means between said narrow heavy belts and rotatable disc means to retain both said thin and heavy belts on said disc means; driving and supporting means engaging said outwardlyfacing narrow belts and lhaving 'driving projections coacting with said lugs of the narrow bel-ts; and

10 means for maintaining said disc means in axially spaced relationship.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,308,420 Hoopes lan, 12, 1943 2,523,304 Johnson Sept. 26, 1950 2,864,249 Nichols Deo. 16, 1958 2,929,674 Tann Mar. 22, 1960 1 2,995,464 Gundiach Aug. s, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS $311,346 Great Britain Iany 2, 1941 

8. IN A LAUNDRY MACHINE A FLEXIBLE ENDLESS MOISTURE RETAINING BELT, HORIZONTALLY SPACED UPPER ROLLERS OVER WHICH OPPOSITE PORTIONS OF THE BELT ARE LOOPED FOR SUPPORTING SAID BELT IN THE FORM OF A DOUBLE SLING HAVING AN OPEN TOP SPACE BETWEEN SAID UPPER SUPPORTING ROLLERS, SAID DOUBLE SLING HAVING INNER AND OUTER STRETCHES ONE OF WHICH PROVIDES AN INNER SLING PORTION ON WHICH DAMP GARMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN INSERTED THROUGH SAID TOP SPACE ARE ADAPTED TO BE TUMBLED, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID INNER AND OUTER SLING PORITONS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP, SPACED GARMENT RETAINING END DISCS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID INNER SLING PORTION AND OVERLAPPED BY THE EDGES THEREOF, NARROW RELATIVELY HEAVY SUPPORTING BELTS CONNECTED ADJACENT OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID MOISTURE RETAINING BELT TO THE LATTER AND OVERLAPPING THE PERIPHERIES OF SAID DISCS WITH PORTIONS OF SAID ENDLESS MOISTURE RETAINING BELT BETWEEN SAID DISCS AND SUPPORTING BELTS TO DRIVE SAID MOISTURE RETAINING BELT AND DISCS IN SYNCHRONISM, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND DRIVING SAID NARROW SUPPORTING BELTS, INTERMEDIATE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SAID MOISTURE RETAINING BELT POSITIONED BETWEEN STRETCHES THEREOF AND HAVING PORTIONS ENGAGED BY AND MOVABLE WITH THE UNDER SIDE OF THE INNER SLING PORTION OF THE MOISTURE RETAINING BELT TO PREVENT SAGGING THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID END DISCS IN AXIALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP. 